The Battle of Aspern-Essling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Game of heroic proportions. (Pictures)

The Austrians began by advancing confidently against Aspern but their attack was slowed down and stalled by some creative use of Cavalry by the French. Meanwhile an Austrian Infantry Corp (3rd Column) and a Division of Cavalry started to slowly advance across the open ground in centre between Aspern and Essling. This was initially slowed by a French Heavy Cavalry Division but when the Austrian Cavalry got into a position to face them off; the French were driven off and the Infantry could then advance towards the line of the ditch that ran between Aspern and Essling. During this slow advance the French in the centre withdrew to avoid the large amount of Artillery the Austrian Centre was able to deploy. Some of this artillery was immediately deployed to start battering Essling

During late morning of the first day the Austrian 4th Column attacked Essling from the flank they attacked throughout the day, the battle was intense with buildings being taken and then retaken. These attacks persisted into the second day and continued as the French launched a fresh Corps against 4th Column. These attacks were constrained by the limited space they had to deploy in (between Essling and the Danube) and could not prevent Essling eventually falling. Once 4th Column had been reinforced with a Grenadier Division it was clear that the French could no longer force the Austrian Left flank no matter how men they could commit (Davout’s corps was available but there would be no where for it to deploy).

The second day on the Austrian right flank saw a return to the attack on Aspern, under enormous pressure the French eventually decided the only way to delay the Austrians further was to withdraw from Aspern and set the town on fire so it was denied to both sides.

By late morning of the second day the Austrians held Essling and the ditch line running to Aspern and nobody held Aspern. The French were now pinned inside the small area between this line and the Danube and they decided that withdrawal was the only option. The withdrawal was masked by several successful but localised attacks against the Austrian left which forced a number of the now fragile Austrian infantry battalions to rout. This prevented Austrian 4th Column from advancing on the French Bridges over the Danube.

 

The battle involved the following figures:

French: 1150 Infantry, 140 Gunners, 330 Cavalry

Austrian: 830 Infantry, 279 Gunners, 270 Cavalry